Dispensing unit



F. J. GLEASON ET AL I ay 26, 1936.

DISPENSING UNIT Filed Dec. 28, 1954 Patented May 26, 1936 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE Burnham, Elizabeth,

N. J., assignors to Merck & Co. Inc., Rahway, N. J., a corporation of New Jersey Application December 28, 1934, Serial No. 759,472

3 Claims.

This invention relates to certain new and useful improvements in dispensing devices.

The prime object of the invention is to provide dispensing means for liquid or pulverulent material, more especially mercury, whereby the material may be dispensed in predetermined measured quantities.

A further object of the invention is to provide a dispensing device by reverse operation of which a definite quantity of material may be measured into the container body and later dispensed therefrom without further admeasurement.

These objects and other objects which will become apparent as the invention is explained are attained by means of the device illustrated in the accompanying drawing, in which Fig. 1 is a side elevational view of a dispensing device constructed in accordance with the present invention;

Fig. 2 is a vertical cross-sectional view taken on line 22 of Figure 1, showing the container body and the valve device by which discharge of material from the container is controlled;

Fig. 3 is a bottom plan view of the dispensing container showing the conical recess in the outer face of the valve block and the axial opening for passage of the contents of the container;

Fig. 4 is a front elevational view of the device;

Fig. 5 is a vertical cross-sectional view taken on line 55 of Figure 4, showing the valve pockets in the valve stem;

Fig. 6 is an exploded elevational view partly in section of the three elements constituting the dispensing device; and

Fig. 7 is a cross-sectional view taken on line 'l! of Fig. 6.

The device comprises three elements, as shown, and is of extremely simple construction, being inexpensive to manufacture, and efiicient in operation. It may be constructed of any suitable material, as determined by the character of the material to be dispensed. It is especially designed for dispensing measured quantities of mercury, although it may be used for dispensing other materials of liquid or pulverulent nature.

Referring, now, to the drawing in detail, the numeral It designates a container having a valve block ll in one end thereof, in which a valve stem I2 is rotatable. The container I0, which 50 may be of any configuration, has a closed end wall [3 and an opposite open end that is internally threaded as at M. The closed end I3 is flattened to provide an upright support for the container Ill when the same is out of use, and also when the container is being charged through the open end, or charged by way of a measuring dispensing valve to be later described.

The valve block I l, is in the form of a cylindrical plug having an end extension [5 of less diameter than the valve block, said extension defining an abutment shoulder l6, and being externally threaded as at H for engagement with the threads M of the open end of the container ID. The shoulder [6 moves into abutting engagement with the adjacent end of the container. A cross bore l8 extends through the valve block I! and diametrically opposite ports l9 and 20 communicate with the bore l8 and provide an inlet and discharge passage through the valve block H for the container Ill. The end face of the extension l 5 is provided with a relatively large conical recess 22, the ports l9 and 20 being centrally disposed of said recesses.

The valve stem l 2 is rotatable in the cross bore l8 in the valve block ll, rotation thereof being facilitated by the knurled head 23. The valve stem I2 is provided with diametrically opposite indentures or pockets 24 in line with the ports [9 and 20, respectively, for the reception of material which may be discharged from or delivered to the container.

When one of the valve pockets 24 registers with the port i9, shown in Figures 2 and 5, the material within the container l0 flows into said pockets, the valve stem I2 being rotated by the head 23 and carrying the material in said pocket in a path circumferentially of the cross bore [8 for discharge through the port 20 at the outer side of the valve block ll, continued rotation of the valve stem l2 effecting a continual dispensing of the contents of the container in predetermined quantities, such as by drops.

In some instances, it may prove desirable to deliver to the container a certain quantity of material which may later be rapidly dispensed without further admeasurement. To accomplish this purpose, normal operation of the device may be reversed. In this case, the container [0 is inverted for support on the flattened end l3 and the conical recess 22 is charged with material. Through rotation of the valve stem l2, measured quantities of the material are delivered to the interior of the container, while any excess material remaining in the conical recess 22 is removed.

When the material is required for use, it may be rapidly dispensed from the container in accurate quantity, without further admeasurement. It will thus be seen that the device as illustrated and described serves a double function.

Our device may also be used in connection with stock bottles for dispensing purposes. To this end, the inner surface of the bottle neck might be threaded and the outer threaded surface of the valve block I I brought into engagement with said inner bottle-neck threads.

From the detailed description of the invention, it is believed that the construction and operation thereof will at once be apparent to those skilled in the art. While there is herein shown and described preferred embodiments of our invention, it is to be understood that certain changes may be made therein without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention as claimed.

We claim as our invention:

1. In a portable mercury dispensing device, a 7

container having one end flattened and closed for the upright support of the container and said container being open at its other end, a valve block having one portion thereof removably mounted within the open end of the container and the other portion outwardly of the container being of substantially the same transverse dimension as the container to provide a symmetrical structure and a valve stem rotatable in the valve block outwardly of the container and adapted for dispensing the contents of the container in predetermined quantities.

2. In a portable mercury dispensing device, a container having one end flattened and closed for the upright support of the container and said container being open at its other end, a valve block having one portion thereof removably mounted within the open end of the container and the other portion outwardly of the container being of substantially the same transverse dimension as the container to provide a symmetrical structure and a valve stem rotatable in the valve block and adapted for dispensing the contents of the container in predetermined quantities and for measuring the quantity of mercury to be introduced into the container, the outer end of said valve block having a relatively large conical recess therein terminating in a central opening of substantially the same diameter as the valve opening in the valve block and stem adapted for the reception of material when the container is inverted for feeding material through the valve opening in the block and stem into the container in predetermined quantities.

3. In a portable mercury dispensing device of the character described, a container having one end flattened and closed for the upright support of the container and said container being open at its other end, a valve block having one portion thereof removably mounted within the open end of the container and the other portion outwardly of the container being of substantially the same transverse dimension as the container to provide a symmetrical structure and a valve stem rotatable in the valve block and adapted for dispensing the contents of the container in predetermined quantities, and for measuring the quantity of mercury to be introduced into the container, the outer end of said valve block having a relatively wide conical recess therein extending from a point adjacent the marginal edge of the block and terminating in a central opening of substantially the same diameter as the valve opening in the valve block and stem adapted for the reception of material when the container is inverted for feeding material into the container in predetermined quantities.

FREDERICK J. GLEASON. STANLEY W. BURNHAM. 

